Sectional overhead door seal



June 12, 1956 F. J. BECK 2,749,582

SECTIONAL OVERHEAD DOOR SEAL Filed April 2, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Frederick .1 Beck INVENTOR.

BY Mim United States Patent SECTIONAL OVERHEAD DOOR SEAL Frederick J. Beck, Gallitzin, Pa.

Application April 2, 1954, Serial No. 420,589

9 Claims. (Cl. 20-68) This invention relates to a sectional overhead door seal and more particularly to a movable molding strip which is acted upon by a closure member for urging a sealing strip into engagement with the closure member for sealing the lateral spaces between the closure member and its frame when the member is in closed position.

An object of this invention is to provide a seal having the above characteristics which operates automatically when the closure member is brought into its closing position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a seal having the above characteristics which will be urged out .of engagement with the closure member when the closure member is moved to its open position.

A further object of this invention is to provide a seal having the above characteristics which is simple and efficient in construction, durable and lasting in use.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a sectional overhead door and its frame with the seal forming the subject of this invention mounted thereon;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the section line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the section line as Figure 2 but with the sectional door shown in a partially open position;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the section line 4--4 of Figure l; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the movable moldings forming a part of this invention.

In the conventional type seal for sectional overhead doors there is provided a movable molding which is urged into engagement with the door when the door is moved to a closed position. However, due to wear this molding after a prolonged period of use no longer forms a tight seal with the door. Further, inasmuch as this molding must slide with respect to the frame it is not possible to have the molding fit tightly against the frame inasmuch as the friction which would result therefrom would impair the movement of the door. This invention provides a seal for a sectional overhead door wherein the above-mentioned defects can be overcome.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings it will be seen that there is disclosed a conventional door frame assembly consisting of a pair of vertical side members or jambs connected together at their upper ends by a rail 12. A pair of tracks 14 are secured to the side members 10 by means of conventional brackets 16. The rails 14 terminate at their upper ends in horizontally extending branches 18. The tracks 14 are conventionally mounted interiorly of the structure on which the frame is mounted.

Between the tracks 14 there is mounted a door which is adapted to cover and uncover the opening in the frame and consisting of sections 20 hinged together by suitable hinges 22 and which hinges have the pins thereof provided with rollers 24 for riding in the tracks 14. Inasmuch as this door is conventionally known in the art it is not believed necessary to further describe the same at this time.

Secured to the side frame members 10 along the faces thereof which adjoin the sides of the door are longitudinally extending flexible sealing strips 26. The sealing strips 26 are in sealing engagement with the faces of the side frame members 10. The sealing strips 26 extend along the inner faces of the side frame members 10 and have a portion which is adapted to overlie the side edges of the sections 20 of the door. The sealing strips 26 may be formed of any suitable resilient flexible material such as rubber or the like.

A pair of movable vertical moldings 28 are provided for attachment to the side frame members 10 in overlying relationship to the portion of the strip 26 which extends along the inner face thereof and in overlying relationship to the portion of the sealing strip 26 which overlies the side edges of the sections 20 of the door. The moldings 28 are provided with obliquely extending slots 30 which are inclined downwardly towards the door when the moldings are mounted in position and the door is in closed position. The slots 30 are each provided with a grommet 32 of wear-resistant material inserted therein.

Suitable pins 34 having enlarged heads 36 are inserted through the slots 30 for attaching the moldings 28 to the side frame members 10. The inner ends of the pins 34 may be threaded as at 38 for securing the same to the side frame members 10. Further, if desired suitable washers 40 may be interposed between the head 36 and the moldings 28 for providing a better bearing surface for the head 36 of the pin.

Secured to the face of the molding 23 facing the sections 20 of the door is a strip 42 of flexible resilient ma.- terial. This strip can be of rubber or any other suit.-

" able material.

In order to provide means for urging the moldings 28 toward the sections 20 of the door when the door is in closed position there is provided an angle-shaped bracket 44 having a horizontally extending portion secured to the opposing face of each of the moldings 28. Suitable fasteners 46 may be used for securing the brackets 44 to the moldings. The lowermost section of the door is provided with a pair of angle brackets 48 secured thereto by suitable fasteners 50 and having a horizontally extending portion which is adapted to engage the hori- .tothe molding 28.

In practical use. of the device, when the strip 26. and the molding 28 has been mounted in position on the frame 10 and the springs 54 connected thereto movement of the door toward the closed position will cause the horizontal portion of bracket 48 to engage the horizontal portion of bracket 44. This movement will urge the molding 28 downwardly against the action of the spring 54. Inasmuch as the slots 30 are inclined with respect to the sections 20 of the door the molding 28 will be urged toward the door. This will cause the flexible strip 42 on the molding 28 to bear against the flexible sealing strip 26 and to urge the same into engagement with the sections 20 of the door. Due to the resilience of the strips 26 and 42 a substantially tight seal will be formed with the sections 20 of the door. This will prevent air from passing through the lateral spaces which are inherently found between the sections 20 of the door and the side frame members 10.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may he resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

I. In combination with a frame and a closure member slidably mounted to cover and uncover the frame, flexible sealing strips secured to the sides of said frame in sealed relationship thereto, said sealing strips having a portion thereof overlying the side edges of said closure member, moldings movably mounted at the sides of said frame overlying said sealing strips and normally spaced from said closure member in the uncovering position of the closure member, means carried by said closure member for drawing said moldings towards said member to urge said sealing strips into sealed engagement therewith, and means for retracting said moldings from said member to free said sealing strips therefrom.

2. In combination with a frame and a closure member slidably mounted to cover and uncover the frame, flexible sealing strips secured to the sides of said frame in sealed relationship thereto, said sealing strips having a portion thereof overlying the side edges of said closure member, moldings movably mounted at the sides of said frame overlying said sealing strips for oblique movement towards said closure member and normally spaced from said closure member in the uncovering position of the closure member, springs connecting the moldings to said frame and adapted to retract the moldings away from said closure member, and means carried by said closure member for drawing said moldings towards said closure member to urge said sealing strips into sealed engagement therewith.

3. In combination with a frame and a closure member slidably mounted to cover and uncover the frame, flexible sealing strips secured to the sides of said frame in sealed relationship thereto, said sealing strips having a portion thereof overlying the side edges of said closure member, moldings movably mounted at the sides of said frame overlying said sealing strips for oblique movement towards said closure member and normally spaced from said closure member in the uncovering position of the closure member, means carried by said closure member for drawing said moldings towards said member to urge said sealing strips into sealed engagement therewith, and means for retracting said moldings from said member to free said sealing strip therefrom.

4. In combination with a frame and a closure member slidably mounted to cover and uncover the frame, flexible sealing strips secured to the sides of said frame in sealed relationship thereto, said sealing strips having a portion thereof overlying the side edges of said closure member, moldings movably mounted at the sides of said frame overlying said sealing strips, said moldings having oblique slots formed therein and sloping downwardly towards said closure member, supporting pins fastened to said frame and passing through said slots, means carried by said closure member for engaging said moldings whereby to draw the moldings towards said closure member for urging said sealing strips into sealed engagement therewith, and means for retracting said moldings from said closure member to free said sealing strip therefrom.

5. In combination with a frame and a closure member slidably mounted to cover and uncover the frame, flexible sealing strips secured to the sides of said frame in sealed relationship thereto, said sealing strips having a portion thereof overlying the side edges of said closure member, moldings movably mounted at the sides of said frame overlying said sealing strips, said moldings having oblique slots formed therein and sloping downwardly towards said closure member, supporting pins fastened to said frame and passing through said slots, means carried by said closure member for engaging said moldings whereby to draw the moldings towards said closure member for urging said sealing strips into sealed engagement therewith, and springs connecting said moldings to said frame and adapted to retract said moldings from said closure member to free said sealing strip therefrom.

6. In combination with a door frame and tracks, a door slidably mounted in said tracks and adapted to cover and uncover said frame, flexible sealing strips secured to the sides of said frame in sealed relationship thereto, said sealing strips having a portion thereof overlying the side edges of said door, moldings mounted at the sides of said frame overlying said sealing strips for oblique movement downwardly towards said door and normally spaced from said door in the uncovering position of the door, means carried by the door for engaging said moldings whereby to draw said moldings towards the door to urge the sealing strips into sealed engagement therewith, and means for retracting said moldings from said door to free said sealing strips therefrom.

7. In combination with a door frame and tracks, a door slidably mounted in said tracks and adapted to cover and uncover said frame, flexible sealing strips secured to the sides of said frame in sealed relationship thereto, said sealing strips having a portion thereof overlying the side edges of said door, moldings slidably mounted at the sides of said frame overlying said sealing strips, said moldings having oblique slots formed therein and sloping downwardly towards said door, supporting pins fixed relatively to the frame and entering said slots, springs acting upwardly on said moldings whereby to draw the moldings away from the door, and brackets carried by said door adapted to exert downward pressure on said moldings whereby to draw the moldings towards the door to urge the sealing strips into sealed engagement therewith.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said slots are provided with reinforcing grommets positioned therein.

9. The combination of claim 7 wherein said moldings are provided with resilient sealing strips secured thereto along the edge thereof facing said door.

Johnson July 5, 1932 Johnson Jan. 3, 1933 

